Asslgrnob of one-fourth to



April 1o, 192s. 1,665,311

. L. A. LAURSEN VUI'JCANIZING )IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RUBBER ARTICLESFiled Janis, 1925 3 sheets-sheet 1 April 10,1928.

' L. A. LAURSEN vuLcAmzmG Ammon AND APPARATUS RoR RUBBER ARTICLES edJan.16; 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wir ammo April 10, 1928.

L. A. LAuRsEN- VULCANIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR-RUBBER ARTICLESFiled Jal-1,16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wzssf such heaters.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES `rirrsu'i oFFlcs.

LAURI'IS A. LAURSEN, OF EAU CLAIRE, VTISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTHI0 PEARL FISHER LAURSEN, OFAKRON, OHIO.

VULCANIZING METHOD AND AIEPARATUS FUR RUBBER ARTICLES.

Application liled January This invention has to do with the art ofmanufacturing rubber articles, and involves an apparatus and methodespecially advantageous for the curing or vulcanizing of inner tubes forautomobile tires. Tie invention involves a special installation orsystem of vulcanizing chambers or heaters peculiarly'connected up forconjoint use, with which may or may not be associated storage means forthe heating medium einployed for the heaters. The system or installationdeals primarily with conditions arising in the commercial manufacture ofrubber articles of the class referred to, and other classes, and aims toobtain a highly efficient operation of the vulcanizing means, wherebylarge economies may be effected under practical conditions of use of thesystem or plant.

In the carrying out of my invention utilize a battery of vulcanizers,heaters or vulca-nizing chambers, which in themselves may be of largelyconventional type, and the battery may be composed of two or more Forthe vulcanizing process l utilize the principle of submerging theartic-les placed in each heater to be vul caniied, in liquid such asWater, subjecting the articles when thus submerged to relatively highpressure, whereby to cause the articles to be pressed into close contactwith the poles or mandrels, on which they are supported during thevulcanizing operation, and raising the temperature in the heater to thenecessary degree for causing the proper curing or vulcanizing action. Aninstallation of heaters according to the rsystem above noted hasheretofore been proposed by me, and used. Under practical conditions ofuse heretofore, I employ the heaters interchangeably, so to speak. Whentvvo of them are used, that is to say, I place the rubber articles to bevulcanized in one heater and do the necessary vuleanizing or curingoperation in such, heater While the other heater is open or inactive forthe reason that it is being lilled with the rubber articles, gettingthem. ready to be vulcanized. As previously proposed by me, I transferthe fluid contents used' in one vulcanizer for curing to the othervulcanizer for subsequent eur-ing in the latter but there has beenconsiderable Wastage of licht in so doing 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,904.

which represents, of course, an economie loss which may be ligured indollars and cents for obvious reasons.

I, therefore, Wish it to be understood that an important novel featureof my present invention has been to accomplish the objective oftransferring the heating fluid or curing medium employed in one heater'ol' a vulcaniaer installation, to the other heater, with substantiallyno loss of heat units from said fluid, or such loss of heat units as ispractically negligible.

ln accomplishingl the above I have devised apparatus and discovered amethod by which to maintain the Water employed in one heater for thecuring operation under the high temperature and temperature pressurecondition which has been created in said heater, While the transfer ofthe Water is effected to transfer `it for use in the second heater. Orif a storage tank is used and I do not Wish to use the Water under itshigh temperature condition in the iirst heater, I am enabled accordingto my invention to move thevivater to the storage receptacle with.practically no loss regards the heat units thereof, and likewise littleor no loss as regards the temperature pressure condition. The sameaction is obtainable in reference to a return of the Water from thestorage receptacle to either of the heaters.

I utilize in the carrying out of my inveir tion certain automaticcontrolling connections, valves, and other appliances which While inthemselves and individually of known construction, have been peculiarlyadapted tothe purposes of my vulcanizer installation or plant, to enabletheir special automatic functions to take place under manual or completeautomatic control, and these automatic features of my 'invention will beespecially claimed as novel in the peculiar manner in which they areused in combination with the connections and heaters of lhe vulcanizingplant.

Referring novv to the drawings acco1npauying this specification, thefigures may he lnriefly described as follows:

Figure l is a side elevation of a rubber vul canizing or curing plant,or system embodying` the principal features of my invention.

Figure Q is a top plan view of the same showing more clearly how thevarious pipes are connected up with the heaters and storage receptacle.

Figure 3 is a cross vsectional view ot the steam admission pipe locatedinfthe bottom portion ot each heater.

Figure 4; is a cross sectional view of the water distrib lit-ing'pi-peyone otfwhieh is provided at the top ot each-'heater'.

Figure 5A is a diagrammatic side View showing inclined poles "arrangedina heater' according to the invention.

In the drawings I have designated the heaters'ot the battery shown intheinstallation illustrated as A and B, but while two heaters are employedit is to be understood? that the number may be increased and by the useot proper' Connections and automatic 'ControlaV a larger numberotheaters may he employed. l conjointly, 'depending upon-the desiredcapacity ot the plant. I have designated the storage receptacleassociated withthe'heaters A and B as C,

Newwith--the assumption that the apparatus of my invention has been inuse, and the 'heaters A and B warmed up incident to'their use, ii:IWater isadinitted to the storage receptacle or tank C from eitherheateig the air in the tank C must be permitted to escape. For this'purpose the valve 2 is opened and-'the air passes out from the tan-k Cthrough the pipe 3 as the-water enters thejtank C by inea-ns ot the pipeet. When the tank C has been filled with water A'steam will remaintherein and the valve2 may be closed y The heater A may now be chargedby placing' therein a1 load ot poles or mandrels (SO with the tubestherein( see Fi'g.- 5).

The heaters A and B may he jacketed heaters, or inother words, theymaybe surrouiuledby a heating? ch amber into' which steam or anysuitable heating fluid may be introduced in' order toY raise ormaintainthe temperature ineither heater to the curing poil -Howeven I do nothave to use a jacketed heater should there be available a supply7 ot.steam under high enough pre's suretoinjeCt it into the water in eitherheater in order tomaintain a uniformcuring temperature ot' thewaterduringthe operationot vulcanizing the same; I show aeketed heaters as aconvenient type for carrying out the processes of my invention, however;

Th epoles and mandrel s above referred to, are those such as ordinarilyused as 'tormers ttor-'making the tubes .tor automobile casings y ortires.

lla-vida` installed a load ot' tubes to be'vulcaniizedmin' the heater A,said heater is oiosed and thenAtilledwithwater, theV tein-z peraturefotwhich Vis raised to approximately GO It. witlr atempera'ture pressure ofap-V proximately 50 pounds.v

The above "temperature and temperature pnessureeare. preferably)employedtorl rubneeaeii ber tubes in \fulcani'/iingl but it is to be understoodthat when I relier to the saine herein. I have in mind a suitabletemperature and temperature pressure at which curing; takes place, thesaine varying somewhat dependent upon the ditiierent kinds oi" articleswhich are being handled in the apparatus.

During the opera-tion ot vuleanizing the tubes in the heater A aninstallation ot such' tub'esin heater B is beine` made and said heateris being;` closed so as to he ready 'for vulcanizing as soon as thatoperation is completed in the heater A The manner in which the water orcuring medium in. one heater is transferred to the other heater will nowbe set torth in detail.

The heated water in the heater A is aused to pass to the heater Bwithout ein posing it to the atmosphere in order to maintain practicallyall ot' the heat in the water in the operation of transferring it to theheater It I The How ot the water troni the heater A i to the heater B iscaused by openingr the valves 7 and 8 otl the cl njing pipe Iinel)".wiater from the heater A will-pass troni itsbottoin through the pipe 9,now open cheek. valve vl0,it.hroug'h the valve T, through the valve 8 tothe check valve ll, automatically closed thereby, tothe valve l2 in thepipe E which extendsvertically trom the pipe D adjacent to the heater B,The water is now passing up through the pipe E`to` the top of theheaterBW-andenters said heater B at its top by means ot the perforatedlpipe F, located at the top ot heater B and constitutingr a waterdistributing pipe.

The pipe F has rows oi openings near its top, designated throupjh whichopenings the water sprays into the heater il in an upward manner.strikes against, the vulcanizer and breaks into a spray so as not toinjure the `raw gum-stock. and tails down over the tubes surroundingYthe poles or inandrels installed in the heater lf As the water entersthe heater B it, has a temperature of approximately 300" IT.. a i'cwdegrees ot heat having' been lost incident to radiation while the waterpasses throne-h the pipes. Ihen the water .strikes the tubes o `Vrelatively cool or cold ajuin-stock on the relatively cool or cold polesor inandrels in the heater B, said water is cooled considerah'ly` audthetemperature thereolI as well as the iiugideutal ten'iperature pressurewill drop.

The hea-ter Bis now filling: `with water and as it fills the airwhirh isin the poles` or lnandrels. and other air in the heater l is iorcedtothe top ot the heater owing' to the rising level ot the water therein.and this air must be eliminated.

For the above purpose I provide a puppet lll() valve 13 of a known typewhich is set toffrlim instantly.

Vmovement of the theme11 maintain a pressure in the heater B, slightlyhigher than the prevailing teinperature pressure. In this instance I setthe valve to let olf pressure at about l5 pounds, and this valve 13 isconnected by means ot pipes 3G and 37 to the interior ot the heater B.Adjacent to the poppet valve 13 is a manual controlling valve 11i, whichis opened to permit the air rising` to the top ol;l the heater B toenipty out oll the heater through saidpoppet valve 13, having the poundpressure relief adjustment. ln this manner .l maintain a presi-aire ofat least 45 pounds in the heater B It Will, therefore, be understoodaccordingr to the example of operation which I ain giving that the Waterenteringl the heater B in the manner stated will lower in tem peratureappr-eximately 1()O F., as compared with its temperature when it lettthe heater A This reduction in temperature varies somewhat from 10o F.,which is an approximate ligure since the cooling depends very largelyupon the size of the load o'l' tubes and poles which. are installed inthe heater B for curing; also, it depends upon the kind of `gum-stock otWhich the tubes are to be made. Assuming the drop in temperaw ture to beabout 1 0o F., however, the pressureiin the vulcanizer or heater B isautomatically built up to about 45 pounds almost On the other hand, asthe Water is leaving the heater A steam will escape therefrom andmaintain a pressure o'liabout pounds in said heater A In the abovemanner I obtain a pressure ditl'erential, which is referred to in suchterms for the purposes ot this specilication, and this differential issu'liicient to elfect the flow ot the Water from the heater A to theheater B Under commercial conditions, however, it is desirable that themovement ot the Water in its highly heated condition in the heater A, tothe heater B, be expedited, primarily for the purpose oit increasing,`the capacity of the apparatus ot my invention. For this reason l proposeto accelerate the Water to increase its velocity to a much greaterextent than is obtainable by the differential of pressures establishedin the heaters A and l in the manner above described.

rlhc increased velocity oli the water passine' lron'i the heater A to(he pipe 9, pipe D, and. pipes il and F, is produced by admittingcompressed air into the heater A on top Vel the water. This compressedair will expand in the heater A and sutlicient air is introduced totorce the water from the heater A to the heater B at substantially anydesired velocity Within the limits required by commercial practice. Thesaid compressed air is passed into the heater A from a loiv pressure airline including the pipe Gr connected by the branch pipe 37 with theheater A and having a manual controlling,` valve 130.

As previously suggested, the Water passing to the heater B from theheater A forces out the air through the vulve 13 under manual control byopening,` valve l/land said air enters the discharge pipe 17 atter ithas passed through the poppet valve 15.

Assuming that the heater B is now filled with Water, the valve 8 isclosed, as is also the valve 14 which controls the valve 13. il thenopen the valve 19, adjacent to the valve 14; and having connection Withthe pipe 3o. its soon as this is done a poppet valve Q0, controlled bythe valve 19, becomes operative. The said valve 2O is set to relievepressure at approximately pounds.

Steam is now admitted to the h rater 3 opposite sides for this purposeas shown in Figure 3.

lhe steam thus caused to enter the heater B performs tivo functions. lnthe first place, it causes a circulation oli' Water in the .heater tocreate a` uniformity of tempera' ture throughout the area ol submergeneeot the said Water. ln the second place, this steam is utilized to heatthe Water back up to the proper curing temperature and pressure whichwould be lor the purpose ot this description approximately 300O l?. andpounds, respectively. betere explained, the Water is maintained at thiscuring;` temperature by the steam jacket surrouridine` the heater, andwhich is supplied with steam under control ot the valve 24.

As soon as the above temperature pressure has been reached the manuallyoperated valve 21 is closed to discontinue the supply oit steam. It isnoted, however, that While the said steam Was entering the Water toraise .its temperature, Ait was also corulensiiruy `iyuto fater` and asurplus ot Water is thus created which must be disposed ot. For thispurpose the valve 20, before referred to, is utilized which allows anysurplus Water to escape through the pipe 1'2" leading' into the Watertank O, sul sequenlly to be described. Any excess ol. pressure due tothc expansion oi the air or Water is also taken care of in the same Way.This valve. 2O being` set at approximately G5 pounds relief pressuredoes not allow the steam in the Water to escape. After the Water hasbeen heated up to the proper temperature the lll lll)

valve 19 is closed and the valve 30, controlling'the air from the highpressure air line I, is opened until a high pressure of approximatelyl5()V pounds applied to the water 'in the heater B.

The purpose ot admitting this high prcssure air is to place the rubberarticles or tubes in the Vulcaniz'er orheater B under sufficientpressure to maintain. them in close workingicontact with the poles ormandrels, on which they are disposed. I rely upon thispres-sure actionto lenaibleme to dispense with the' present commonly used method ot'ivrappingrl the tubes with cloths or 'fabricwrappings,.used'topreventair or water troni entering between the tubesand the poles andcausing bubbles, orfdeiects, or ballooning, ot' thetubes in the manner well known `to thoseversed in the art to which myinvention appertains.4 I might say, iur-.rever7 that l of cou'se sealthe ends oi' the tubes on the poles or mandrels before they are placedinthe heater or vulcanizer, preterably by means of cured rubber bands orbinders surrounding the ends ot the tubes and ypolesV (see Figo). Y

This feature of my process is embodied in a separate application yforpatent, however, (see my pending'4 application, Serial Number 624,977,filed March 14:, 1923, and also my pending application Serial Number740,-' 308, `tiled September 27', 1924), and does not :toi-1n in itselfa feature ot this particular invention-save thatk the manner ot'application ofthe tubes and to the poles is utilized in operating` theapparatus hereol?.

wish it to le understood that according to my invention the pressureonthe articles in the heater B, of 150 pounds, may be produced by means'other than compressed air although the air means is a convenient andcommercially flexible method to employ.

Let us assume now that theinstallaition of tubesin the Vulcanizer orheater Bi has been subjected to curing temperature until the cui-img` iscompleted. To empty the heater B by causing,l the water therein to flowback'to the heater A I open the valve 8 and the Valve 7 again; Underthese conditions througlrthe provision of duplicate pipes andy valve'arrangements like those which vhave-thus far been described asasseciated with the heater B, the rater will pass backtothe top oit theheater A owing to the opening oli the checkvalve ll, the closing ot thecheck ralve L() and the diversion of the-water from the pipe D upthroughv a. pipe E, the latter leadingto the top of the heater A andcorresponding to the pipe E, previously mentioned.

lWithout describing the duplicate pipes or connectionsfor the heater' A,which are quite equivalent to those previously described, l havedesignated them largely as follows, using,` the same number asprcviously rused but with the prime designation accompanyi.upl saidnumber; 2xt', 3(5, 20, Gig/,gll, lfl, lyT/Ql, E, 2Q, 30, ll, or,ao,40,andn..

For economy ol? piping` and to simplify my apparatus as much as possiblel connect up the steam supply. line lvl, the high prossure air line l,the low pressure air `line` G and certain other ot the pipes employedtor conductingY air, steam or water, with bothsets ol" the pipes andvalves referred lo above of duplicate construction.

l new d .,cribe how the water in cilhcroue of the heaters may be causedto enter the storage receptacle or tank i, which has been referred tohcreto'lorc and which may be considered another heater used 'lor thesolo purpose ot storing,` water under tenu perature pressure, in orderto conserve the heat units in the water, such conservation, of course,representing a saving olI power, fuel', or eipiivalent economies incommercial practice. To cause the water to enter the rec fptacle C -fromthe heater ll l open the 'alves S and Q7. rlhe valve 7 remains closed sothat the water is thus caused to pass from the heater B to thereceptacle C through the pipe Q8, connected to the pipe D by the pipe.l. In this action the check valve 2S) ot pipe 28 closes to cut ofll theadmission ot the water to the bottom of the tank C and the waterthereforel passes by an open check-valve 39 upward through a pipe elinto the top ol the tank (l.

Air in the tank C, as previously cxplaincd1 las been emptied out and asthe water enters the tank C there will be a slight reduction in itstemperature due to radiation of the heat from the pipes or pipeconnections. This reduction in temperature and temperature pressure isslight. illhih` said reduction in temperature and temperature pressureis slight it would be sullicient to cause the water to pass from theheater B to the tank C, Again, however, lor con'nnercial purposes Ipret'cr to use means to expedite the movement ol the water trom theheater B, and the same would be true as to the heater A, to the tank C,For this purpose l increase the velocity ot' the moven'ient ol the waterfrom the heater ll to the tank C by suluilyinp` compressed air to theheater B from thehpv-pressure `line (l through the pipe Il?, previouslydcscrified. by simply opening` the valve lil() controlling suchzuihuission. Y ln this wa) tho pressure is raised in the healer lfloaccomplish the desired result.

Suitable water gauges 39 and 3S) enable the operator to observe when thewater is emptied from the heaters A and 13, respectively.

As soon as the vater has been emptied from the heater 13 the valve 8 isclosed and the valve 40, in a pipe K leading to the heater 13, may beopened so as to permit any steam or air `ren'rainine,` in the heater Bto pass off into the atniosphere.

If any water has beenused for cooling` the cured rubber r articles inthe heater' 13, such water may be readily emptied outy of the heaterthrough a pipe 3l by simply opening a valve 4l.

The cured rubber' articles may novv be removed from the `heater l3, thecuring inedium of which has either been stored in the tank 0, or causedto pass back to the heater 14. Should the Water be in the storage tank Cit may be caused to flou' into the heater 13 by opening the valve 8,associated with said heater, and also openingl the valve 2i'. Valve 7remains closed. The Water from thev tank C is under the pressure of itsown temperature and Will, therefore, pass by the check-valve 29 in thepipe 28', through the pipe 28 (check-valve 29 being' closed) through thevalve 8, close the check valve l1 and pass up into the top of the heateri3 through the pipe lil The Water is then sprayed on to the tubesassinned to have been installed in the heater B by means of the pipe EAgain the valve l4iis opened to permit air in the heater i3 to escapeunder a fixed pressure control means consisting' of the poppet valve 13,in the manner previously set forth, using1 the discharge pipe 17,previously referred to.

The temperature and temperature pressure in the tank C has fallenslightly owing to the transferring of the Water thereto and back now tothe heater 13, and is further reduced by the Water contacting with theload of cold gum-stock, and poles, in the heater l Steam is applied tothe top of the Water in the tank C through the pipe 25 by opening' thevalve 'it and this steanr not only arts as a motive medium to assist inpropelling; from the tank C to the heater Ev but at thatsauie time itutilized as a convenient means for heating the water to slightly raiseits temperature as required or desired for its use in the heater lrllhis steani applied to the top of the Water in the tank C does nottend to heat the Water a great deal owing; to the inode of itsapplication and the fact that the Water is not circulating. Thereforethe Water alsorbs the heat of the steam primarily by radiation and thisaccounts for the only slight increase in temperature. lVhen the heater Bis filled the valves 8 and X are closed.

nsteadof usine` steam to more the Water from the tank C to the heater Bl could user compressed air but I prefer the steam oivine to theheating1 action set forth. Moreover, the steam reinainingi.,l in thestorage receptacle will be condensed into Water upon the return oftheWater `from the heater B,

and by its condensation Will raise the teinperature of the Water in adesirable manner.

The check valve 29 prevents the water withdrawn from the heater frompassing into the tank C at the bottom, the'pipe 4 forininpl the inletpipe at the top of the tank and thereby preventing an objectionableWater hammer effect.

In order to cool the rubber articles cured in either of the heaters Iemploy a cold water pipe 42 having branches 43 and 43' leading to thepipes E and E, respectively. Controlling valves 44 and 44 are mounted onthe pipes 43 and 43, respectively. If a load of the vulcanized rubberarticles in the heater A is to be cooled be` fore exposingthe same toatmospheric pressure, the valve 44 is opened and water from the pipe 413Will be caused to enter the heater by means of the pipes E and F.

This Water used for cooling` may be drained out of the heater A byopening the valve 4l, by which action the Water may be emptied into astorage tank O through the drain-pipe 31 previously referred to.

I provide a suitable pump L as a desirle accessory, supplied with Waterby a priming pipe 45 which is connected With the pipe 42. -Whenemptying` both of the heaters it and i3 at the saine time, the storagetank C will be connected to receive the Water from one heater and theWater from the other heater will be emptied into the storage tank Ii Inorder to force the Water from the tank O back to the heater A the valvesin all of the largest pipe lines are closed excepting valves 7 and 47.The Water Will then be forced from the tank O up through the pipe 4Gleadingl from the pump L through the valve i', closing the check valve'l0` up through the pipe E into the top of the heater A throun'h theperforated pipe F.

To drain this heater A the valve 4l is opened and the Water will drainto the tank through the ljiipe 3l.

'llo pump the 'Water in the tank (l) to the heater i3 all of the 'valvesin the large pipes except valve 47 and the valve 8 aro closed. The waterwill then close the check valve ll and ,g'o up into the top of theheater B through the pipe E and pipe if To drain the Water from theheater il the valve 4l is opened and the Water passes through the pipe3l back to the tank O.

To pump the Water from the storage tank O to the storage and heating;tank C valves 47 and 27 are opened and the water will pass through thepipes 28 and 4 to the tank C The tank C is drained from the bottomthrough the pipes 28 and 28 and the other connections through which itis supplied ivith Water from the tank O. V

By Way of reeapitulation, it may be stated that rubber tubes aregenerally vulcanized in vulcanizers or heaters Aat a temperature ofabout BOOOF., at aboutfO 'pounds temperature pressure. Obviously, if therubber is vulcanized in water vand the Vwater is "exposed to theatmosphere after ithas been used for curing -the rubber Jartioles, thesteam .will escape out of the water, reducing the temperature down toapproxi-mately 2100, a loss of `heat which-mustf-be 4built up againinorder .thatfthewater maybe usedthe next time for curing purposes.Necessarily this lossuoic heat representswastage `for to raise the vheatov'fythe water .again to curing-temperature and temperature pressureinvol ves anfexpenditure ot power in .t`uel, or otherwise7whiohrepresents a Agrea-t'deal of money.

`My processandapparatusdoes away with nearly all of the i'abovewastageof Vheat and therefore `under .commercial l conditi ons I am enabled .tooperate fin-y vulcanizers-in -myiap paratus -inl a way representing avery conf siderable .economy o1"- expense. 'llhe 'principle which Iavail of is v'the maintenance of the waterfat-substantially its lhightemperatureand with substantially :itel temperature pressureot curing,while moving itfroin one vuleanizer to vanother Peither directly orindirectly, as through the intermediary of an interposed storagereceptacle. Even when I lempty both of my heaters I am stillienabled byvmy apparatusto preserve Vnearly all of the heatunits of thewateriehargeot one heater, although the other yheater inust be emptied into the tank0' where the water will :reduce .to atmosphericpressure or temperaturefat least. 0f cou-rse, it desiredpthe capacity otthelstoragetank .could be made equal to the combined-'capacities `ot thetwoheaters, Ior even" greater, or a separate'storage tank o. any-suitable.capacity could be Y provided foneaclnheater.

I provide the storage `Ltank-G `with a vent 49 leading totheratmosphere.

i It listo beunderstoo'd 'that instead 'ot spraying .the tubes with coldwater Vas by the use ot the water -Liiowing-through the vpipe 4:2, I maykpass through this pipeor other suitable inlet/,pipes warm water heatedto approximatelyva. temperature ot 210@l IF.-

or 2120 It, Thiswvaterif-pumped'on to the tubes and polesiin aheaterwillcool them downto approximately 2120 F.,and will prevent the tubes-fromexpanding ror .ballooning?? `away from vthe poles when exposed tothe'atmospherebut will'leave them warm enough to-be easilywstripped'fronrmandrel till into itfrom eitherfo" the two heaters through thev`pipe' 17 before `referred i tow-as well as from the heater vjaeletthrough the dischargepipe I indicated `in lFig. 2.

I am giving the temperaturey ligures .above as approximate rather thanexact rbecause the cooling tiuid used should be warm enough so that thetubes will ynot balloon and this applies whether the water used isemployed after use in a heater or vulcanizer, or taken from an entirelydillerent source..

The principle involved in this cooling is to bring the .pole-or mandrelon whiclrthe tubeiis mounted down to a fixed tcniperatine, approximately2100 I". or atmospheric pressure, just sutlieiently to prevent theballoon ing action. The tube and `pole arc thus cooled practicallyuniformlydown to said point eliminating' the ba'liooningi It tube iscooled below 2000,-hot gas between the mandrel and tube which causes thetube to balloon whenl hot, has been destroyedand willcause a vacuum,which will make the `tube cling tothefpole a ud make it veryidiliicnltto strip saine oil'.` Cooling' with wateratabout :210O has the-ndesiredellect; it stops the tube from ballooning Vbut docs not destroythe ihnotgas between 'the linandrel and tube.

liVhen the water is caused to entera heater at the top it strikesthe topolf the heater and its force is broken; also it thus caused to besprayed -down over the load of stock. lVere the apertures in the pipe i`pointed downwardslthe 'force o'l the water-entering therethrough wouldstrike and destroy the stock while in its raw sta-te.

It is notable that the poles or ymandi-cls GO used 'on the heaters A andB areopcn at both ends, and are placed in ythe heaters at a slight-angleto the horizontal so one'end is .higher than the other. This willgreatly Mfacilitate' the circulation ot the water vl'reelv through thepolesaccelerating they curing oi" the stock, and the uniformity o'ltliecnrinfr action. `V

It is lo be understood that .ao tar as eil'ective vuse of :my apparatusis concerned. when the water is removed in .preheated conditionfrom oneofthe vulcanizing heaters A or l, to the other, the heater whichreceives the water necessarily acts as a storage 'receptacle for thepreheated liquid while said liquid is removed `troni the heater i'roniwhich. it is taken. To this extent. Voi.i course` each heater troni theviewpoint ot practical utility will perform the t'unction ot storingthc-iiireheatcd water for its associated healer just like the .storagereceptacle C does its work. It is true that when the water is conductedfromone heater to' the other.. in its preheated condition. it isc-.sedin the `second heater for vulcanizing purposes. which is a function ofthe second=heater 4that cannot lie-performed hy the storage VreceptacleC. Furthermore, as previously-set forth, Initiloo lili

out a vulcanizing operation in a suitable receptacle, withdrawing` theWater from said receptacle and re-using it While substantially atvulcanizing temperature and temperature pressure tor carrying outanother 4vulcanizing operation, and supplying sutlicient heat to theWater in the latter operation to compensate for the lossy due toradiation and absorption.

7. An improvement in the methodot vuleanizing rubber articles in Wateror an equivalent liquid, which consists in carrying out succeedingvulcanizingl operations in dit terent receptacles, and utilizing for asuc-- ceeding vu'lcanizing` operation the heatcontainedin the Water,'While above the boiling point and at the corresponding temperaturepressure, as used for a preceding vulcanizn ing operation, and supplyingto the Water used VJr'or the Succeeding vulcanizing voperationsutlicient heat to bring it to .the desired vulcanizing temperature.

8. An improvement in the method ot vulcanizing rubber articles V`inWater or an equivalent liquid, which consists in carrying` out avulcanizing` operation in a suitable receptacle, t'ansterring' theWat-er after vulcanization to a. suitable storage receptacle, latertransferringthe Water to the same or a different receptacle in the termot a spray for carrying' out another vulcanizin'g operation, andmaintaining' the Water above the boiling point and at the correspondingtemperature pressure during` transfer.

9. ,An improvement in the method oi vulH *canizing Vrubber articles invWater or an equivalent liquid, Which consists in carrying out avulcanizing` loperation in a suitable receptacle, transferring,` theWater after. vuleanization to a. suitable storage receptacle Whilemaintaining it `above the .boilingn point and at the correspondingtemperature pres` sure and. later transt'erring the Water to the sameora different vulcaniziire receptacle Vby the admission o't steam at thetop'ot vthe stofage receptacle under sufficient pressure to eapeltheWater from-the bottomthereof and torce it into the vulcanizing`receptacle.

l0. An Vimpi'oven'ient in thev method of vulcanizing rubber articles inWater or an equivalent liquid, which consists in transterri'ng Water,While maintained above the boiling,` point and at the correspondingtemperature pressure trom a storage receptacle into a vulcanizing`receptacle under the motive torce of steam pressure, allowingy the steamto remain in the storage receptacle after :the Water transfer, and laterforcing* the Water from a vulcanizingreceptacle back into the storagereceptacle under a pressure Lgreater'than the steam pressure, therebycondensing the steam and-causing it to heatthe Water.

ll. 'An improvement in the method of vulcanizing rubber. articles,.which consists in spraying,l Water or an equivalent liquid while heatedto a vulcanizing temperature onto the articles to be vulcanized.

l2. An improven'ient in the method of vulcanizing rubber articles, whichconsists in placing:` the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closedreceptacle, and admitting into said receptacle Water oran equivalentliquid While heated to a temperature above 212 degrees F. in the formot' a spray which plays upon the articles.

13. The method of vulcanizingrubber artieles, which consists in placingthe articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closed receptacle,adn'iitting into said receptacle water or an equivalent liquid whileheated to a temperature above 212 degrees F. in the `,torni o'l a spraywhich plays upon the articlesA` and then heating the Water within thereceptacle sutliciently to raise it to the linal vulcanizinra,rten'iperature.

let. An improven'ient in the method ot vulcanizing` rubber articles,which consists in spraying the articles to be vulcanized with andgradually submerging them in water or an equivalent liquid heated to avulcanizing temperature.

15. An improvemeiit in vuleanizinnj rubber articles, which consists ingradually submerging the rubber articles to be vulcanized 9 in Water oran equivalent liquid heated to a vulcanizing teinlierature and sprayingsaid articles with Water as the submerging operation proceeds.

1G. The method ot vulcanizin;- rubber articles, which consists inplacing;- the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closed receptacle,and gradually submerginev the articles in Water or an equivalent liquidheated to a temperature above 212 degrees F. and admitted into saidreceptacle in the torni o' a spray which plays upon the articles untilthey are submerged.

1T. The method ot vulcanizing` rubber articles, which consists inplacing` the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closed receptacle,gradually submerginn the articles in Water or an equivalent liquidheated to a vulcanizing tei'iiperature and admitted into said receptaclein the t'orm ot a spray ivhich plays upon the articles until they aresubmerged, and heating the water as it `aradually fills the receptaclesuliiciently to raise it to the final vulcanizing` temperature.

i8. rlfhe method ot vulcaniziimrubber articles, Whichconsists inplacing' the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closed receptacle,'gradually submerg'ingr the articles in Water oran equivalent liquidheated to a vulcanizing` temperature and admitted into said receptaclein the form ot a spray which plays upon the articles until they aresubmerged, heating the Water as it accumulates Within 'the receptaclesutliciently to raise it to the final vulcanizingtemperature, and

llU

causing a forced circulation of the body of Water Within the receptacleuntil it is heated to said temperature.

19. The method of vulcanizing rubber articles, Which consists in placingthe articles to be vulcanized in a suitable closed receptacle, graduallysubmerging the'articles in Water or an equivalent liquid heated to avulcanizing temperature and admitted into said receptacle in the form of a. spray Whlch plays upon the articles until they are submerged, andcausing a forced circulation of the Water Within the receptacle duringthe initial stage of vulcanization.

20. An improvement in the method of vulcanizing rubber articles, whichconsists -1n spraying Water or an equivalent liquid While heated to avulcanizing temperature onto the articles to be vulcanized, andsubjecting the articlesduring the setting period to a pressuresubstantially in excess of the vulcanizing temperature pressure.

21. An improvement in the method of vulcanizing rubber articles in Wateror 'an equivalent liquid, which consists in admitting the Water Whileheated to a vulcanizing temperature into a suitable closed receptaclecontaining the articles to be vulcanized, and causing a forcedcirculation of the Water Within the receptacle Without withdrawing theWater therefrom during the initial stage of vulcanization.

22. The method of vulcanizing rubber articles, which consists in placingthe articles to be vulcanized in a suitable receptacle, admitting intosaid receptacle Water or an equivalent liquid While heated to avulcanizing temperature to cover the articles, and then heating theWater Within the receptacle to the desired vulcanizing temperature bythe injection of a heating medium which simultaneously produces a forcedcirculation of the Water.

23. The method of vulcanizing rubber articles, Which consist-s inplacing the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable receptacle,admitting into said receptacle Water or an equivalent liquid Whileheated to a vulcanizing temperature to submerge the articles, heatingthe Water Within the receptacle suliiciently to raise it to the desiredvulcanizing temperature and causing a forced circulation thereof as thesubmerging operation proceeds, and during the setting period maintainingthe Water under pressure substantially in excess of the vulcanizingtemperature pressure.

24:. The method of vulcanizing rubber articles in Water or an equivalentliquid, which consists in placing the articles to be vulcanized in asuitable receptacle, admitting Water While heated to a vulcanizingtemperature into said receptacle so as gradually to submerge thearticles, and causing the Water as it rises Within the receptacle tobuild up therein ,a gradually increasing pressure above `the prevailingtemperature pressure,

until a predetermined point is reached.

25. The method of vulcanizing rubber articles in Water or an equivalentliquid, Which consists in placing the articles to be vulcanized in asuitable receptacle, admitting water While heated to a vulcanizingtemperature into said receptacle so as gradually to submerge thearticles, and causing the Water as it rises Within the receptacle tobuild up therein a gradually increasing pressure above the prevailingtemperature pressure, untill" the articles are submerged, and at orabout that time subjecting the Water to a still greater pressure.

26. The method of vulcanizing rubber articlcs, which consists insubjecting the articles to be vulcanized to contact With Water or anequivalent liquid heated to a vulcanizing temperature, maintaining thearticles under pressure in excess of the prevailing temperaturepressure, and building up said excess pressure in stages vvherebyv thearticles may be subjected to different desired pressures above thetemperature pressure at different stages of vulcanization.

2T. rllie method of vulcanizing rubber articles which consists inplacing the articles to be vulcanized in a suitable receptacle,admitting into said receptacle Water or an equivalent liquid Whileheated to a vulcanizing temperature and under a pressure less than theiinal vulcanizing pressure, applying to the articles before they becomeset a pressure in excess of the temperature pressure, and maintainingsaid excess pressure until after the articles become set.

28. An improvement in the method of vulcanizing rubber articles in Wateror an equivalent liquid, Which consists in carrying out a vulcanizingoperation in a suitable receptacle, transferring the Water aftervulcanization to a suitable storage receptacle, later transferring theWater to the same or a different vulcanizing receptacle at a ratesusceptible of variation at will for use in carrying out anothervulcanizing operation, and maintaining the Water substantially atvulcanizing temperature and temperature pressure during transfer.

In testimony whereof I at'iX my signature.

LAURITS A. LAURSEN.

